Learn how media can inspire social and political discourse, organize collective action and amplify underrepresented voices and experiences. Understand communication as a part of a larger global power dynamic and how to use it to build and assess strategic approaches in campaigns, advocacy, and social movements across disciplines.
The Communicating Social Issues minor is open to all undergraduate students at The University of Texas at Austin.ATTENTION: The Communicating Social Issues minor has a different name, number of total hours, and required courses for the catalogs prior to 2022-2024. Be mindful of these differences when viewing the minor requirements and completing the minor application. |
Click on tab for the specific catalog year associated with your major. Only courses listed on your specific catalog will count towards your minor. NOTE: You can find your catalog in the Profile section at the bottom of the IDA Audit Request page. |
2022-2024 Catalog
The Communicating Social Issues minor is open to all undergraduate students following the 2022-2024 catalog.
- The Communicating Social Issues minor requires a total of 15 hours of coursework.
- 9 hours of coursework must come from outside of major requirements. Only six hours of overlap between major and minor courses is allowed for this minor.
- 9 hours of coursework must be taken at upper division level.
- 9 hours of coursework must be taken in residence.
- All courses must be taken for a letter grade, unless the course is only offered on the pass/fail basis. Only courses with a grade of C- or better will be counted towards the minor.
Contact the Moody Minors Advisor for more information or questions about the Communicating Social Issues minor.
The title of this minor on the 2022-20204 catalog is Communicating Social Issues. Be mindful of the differences in minor name, total hours and requirements from the previous catalogs.
Students pursuing the Communicating Social Issues minor under the 2022-2024 catalog are responsible for the following requirements:
| Six hours of required coursework: | ||
| COM 307 | Overview of Social Justice and Media | |
| COM 321 | Communicating Social Justice Capstone | |
| Nine hours of coursework from the following: | ||
| ADV/ P R 320 | Integrated Communication for Nonprofit Organizations | |
| ADV/ P R 322 | Health Communication: Messages, Campaigns, and the Media | |
| ADV/ P R 323 | Public Communication of Science and Technology | |
| ADV/ P R 324 | Communicating Sustainability | |
| ADV 336 | Multicultural Issues in Advertising and Public Relations (any topic) | |
| ADV/ P R 378 | Social Issues in Advertising and PR in New York City (UTNY) Also listed as ADV 378 Social Issues - UTNY in course schedule. | |
| CLD 301 | Introduction to Communication and Leadership | |
| CMS 338 | Leadership Stories | |
| CMS 338L | Leadership and Public Memory | |
| CMS 340K | Communication and Social Change | |
| CMS 342K | Political Communication | |
| CMS 344K | Lying and Deception | |
| CMS 354 | Conflict Resolution | |
| CMS 358C | Identity In Relationships | |
| CMS 363P | Politics and Protest in Sports | |
| CMS 364K | Gender and Communication | |
| COM 316 | Photographic Communication | |
| COM 323.2 | Communication Internship (Topic 2: Social Change Internship) | |
| COM 327 | Independent Study in Social Justice | |
| J 301F | Fundamental Issues in Journalism | |
| J 308S | Introduction to Media Studies | |
| J 313P | Multimedia News Reporting | |
| J 315R | Contemporary Representation in Media | |
| J 322J | Reporting Social Justice | |
| J 330L | Community Life: Documented | |
| J 341F | Understanding African Americans and the Media | |
| J 341J | Minorities and the Media | |
| J 341M | Representation in the News Media | |
| J 348D | Gender and the News | |
| J 348M | Diversity in News Organizations | |
| J 351F | Journalism, Society, and the Citizen Journalist | |
| J 356R | Race and Digital Media Cultures | |
| J 358S | Communicating Social Change | |
| RTF 301S | Social Activism in Film | |
| RTF 303D | Media and Culture (formerly RTF 307 Media and Society)1 | |
| RTF 323C | Screening Race | |
| RTF 328C | Gender and Media Culture | |
| RTF 329C | Digital Media Production | |
| RTF 335.2 | Television Analysis and Criticism (Topic 2: Race, Class, and Gender in American Television) | |
| RTF 335.4 | Television Analysis and Criticism (Topic 4: Queer Television) | |
| RTF 342.8 | Topics in Global Media (Topic 8: Development Communication and Social Change) | |
| RTF 345.8 | Studies in Film History (Topic 8: Social Documentary) | |
| RTF 345.9 | Studies in Film History (Topic 9: Women Behind the Camera) | |
| RTF 359.8 | Studies in Media and Culture (Topic 8: Women and Sports Media) | |
| RTF 359S.5 | Studies in Media and Culture (Topic 5: Queer Media Studies) | |
| RTF 359S.9 | Studies in Media and Culture (Topic 9: Latina Feminisms and Media) | |
| RTF 359S.15 | Studies in Media and Culture (Topic 15: Black Television Comedy) | |
| RTF 365.15 | Topics in Media and Society (Topic 15: Latinx Media, Arts, and Activism ) | |
| SLH 314L | Sociocultural Bases of Communication | |
| In addition to specific course requirements, students must also fulfill the hour totals for overall, in residence, and upper division coursework as well as meet the grade minimums for each minor course. |
| 1 Course number and title change effective Fall 2024. Students who complete RTF 307 Media and Society prior to Fall 2024, do NOT need to take RTF 303D. |
Under specific circumstances, the minor faculty committee may consider course substitutions for minor course requirements. Approval of any petition is not a guarantee. Students must meet with the Moody Minors Advisor to discuss a petition. |
2018-2022 Catalogs
The Communication and Social Change minor is open to all undergraduate students following the 2018-2020 and 2020-2022 catalogs.
- The Communication and Social Change minor requires a total of 18 hours of coursework.
- 9 hours of coursework must come from outside of major requirements. Only nine hours of overlap between major and minor courses is allowed for this minor.
- 9 hours of coursework must be taken at upper division level.
- 9 hours of coursework must be taken in residence.
- All courses must be taken for a letter grade, unless the course is only offered on the pass/fail basis. Only courses with a grade of C- or better will be counted towards the minor.
For students under the 2020-2022 catalog
The title of this minor on the 2020-2022 catalog is Communication and Social Change. Be mindful of the differences in minor name, total hours and requirements for the later catalogs.
Students pursuing Communication and Social Change minor under the 2020-2022 catalog are responsible for the following requirements:
| Three hours of required coursework: | |
| COM 323.2 | Communication Internship (Topic 2: Social Change Internship) |
| Fifteen hours of coursework from the following: | |
| ADV/ P R 320 | Integrated Communication for Nonprofit Organizations |
| ADV/ P R 322 | Health Communication: Messages, Campaigns, and the Media |
| ADV/ P R 323 | Public Communication of Science and Technology |
| ADV/ P R 324 | Communicating Sustainability |
| ADV/ P R 336 | Multicultural Issues in Advertising and Public Relations (any topic) |
| ADV/ P R 378 | Social Issues in Advertising and PR in New York City (UTNY) Also listed as ADV 378 Social Issues - UTNY in course schedule. |
| CMS 340K | Communication and Social Change |
| CMS 342K | Political Communication |
| CMS 354 | Conflict Resolution |
| J 315R | Contemporary Representation in Media |
| J 341J | Minorities and the Media |
| J 342G | Reporting the World: A Critical Examination of the United States News Media |
| J 348D | Gender and the News |
| J 351F | Journalism, Society, and the Citizen Journalist |
| J 358S | Communicating Social Change |
| RTF 301S | Social Activism in Film |
| RTF 323C | Screening Race |
| RTF 342.8 | Topics in Global Media (Topic 8: Development Communication and Social Change) |
| RTF 365.13 | Topics in Media and Society (Topic 13: Activist Media) |
| In addition to specific course requirements, students must also fulfill the hour totals for overall, in residence, and upper division coursework as well as meet the grade minimums for each minor course. |
Under specific circumstances, the minor faculty committee may consider course substitutions for minor course requirements. Approval of any petition is not a guarantee. Students must meet with the Moody Minors Advisor to discuss a petition. |
For students under the 2018-2020 catalog
The title of this minor on the 2018-2020 catalog is Communication and Social Change. Be mindful of the differences in minor name, total hours and requirements for the later catalogs.
Students pursuing Communication and Social Change minor under the 2018-2020 catalog are responsible for the following requirements:
| Three hours of required coursework: | |
| COM 323.2 | Communication Internship (Topic 2: Social Change Internship) |
| Fifteen hours of coursework from the following: | |
| ADV/ P R 320 | Integrated Communication for Nonprofit Organizations |
| ADV/ P R 322 | Health Communication: Messages, Campaigns, and the Media |
| ADV/ P R 323 | Public Communication of Science and Technology |
| ADV/ P R 324 | Communicating Sustainability |
| ADV 336 | Multicultural Issues in Advertising and Public Relations (any topic) |
| ADV/ P R 378 | Social Issues in Advertising and PR in New York City (UTNY) Also listed as ADV 378 Social Issues - UTNY in course schedule. |
| CMS 340K | Communication and Social Change |
| CMS 342K | Political Communication |
| CMS 354 | Conflict Resolution |
| J 315R | Contemporary Representation in Media |
| J 341J | Minorities and the Media |
| J 342G | Reporting the World: A Critical Examination of the United States News Media |
| J 348D | Gender and the News |
| J 351F | Journalism, Society, and the Citizen Journalist |
| J 358S | Communicating Social Change |
| RTF 301S | Social Activism in Film |
| RTF 323C | Screening Race |
| RTF 342.8 | Topics in Global Media (Topic 8: Development Communication and Social Change) |
| RTF 365.13 | Topics in Media and Society (Topic 13: Activist Media) |
| In addition to specific course requirements, students must also fulfill the hour totals for overall, in residence, and upper division coursework as well as meet the grade minimums for each minor course. |
Under specific circumstances, the minor faculty committee may consider course substitutions for minor course requirements. Approval of any petition is not a guarantee. Students must meet with the Moody Minors Advisor to discuss a petition. |
What next?
General Minor Eligibility
Undergraduate students under the 2022-2024 catalog at UT Austin are eligible to apply for the Communicating Social Issues minor. Students under the 2018-2020 and 2020-2022 catalogs are eligible to apply for the Communication and Social Change minor.
A student's major college may have additional criteria that they must meet in order to pursue a minor. Prior to applying, students are encouraged to meet with an academic advisor in their own major to discuss how the minor fits into their degree plan.
Moody Student Eligibility
Moody students have additional criteria for pursuing a minor credential.
- Moody students may only pursue one minor/certificate credential.
- Moody students following the 2020-2022 and earlier catalogs must apply for their minor before they have completed 65% of their degree requirements.
- Moody students following the 2022-2024 catalog must apply for their minor before they have completed 75% of their degree requirements.
Moody students should contact their advisor if they have questions about these policies.
- Visit this site
- Select "COM Communication" for Field of Study
- Click "Continue"
- Select the appropriate minor title based on catalog eligibility
- 2018-2020 and 2020-2022 catalogs: "COMMUNICATION AND SOCIAL CHANGE (MNCCOM07)"
- 2022-2024 catalog: "COMMUNICATING SOCIAL ISSUES (MNCCOM10)"
- Click "Continue"